Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa

South Africa: Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory was 5.7% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
5.7%
Change on year
up 94.6%
World rank
33rd
of 37 countries
All-time high
39.4%
in 2018
All-time low
3.0%
in 2020
Years of data
8
2005–2021

Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa, 2005–2021

0102030402005201320212005: 11 preT2010: 3.6 preT2014: 12.6 preT2016: 11.6 preT2018: 39.4 preT2019: 6.1 preT2020: 3 preT2021: 5.7 preT

Source: ASPIRE. Measured in preT.

Analysis

The most recent figure for beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa is 5.7%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 94.6% on the previous year and up 60.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa peaked at 39.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 2020.

That places South Africa 33rd out of 37 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT) in South Africa, 2005 to 2021.
Year preT Change
2005 11.0%
2010 3.6% -67.4%
2014 12.6% +252.9%
2016 11.6% -8.1%
2018 39.4% +239.2%
2019 6.1% -84.4%
2020 3.0% -52.0%
2021 5.7% +94.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 11.0% 11.0% 11.0% 1
2010s 14.7% 3.6% 39.4% 5
2020s 4.3% 3.0% 5.7% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 30 Panama 7.1% compare
  2. 31 Ecuador 6.7% compare
  3. 32 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 6.6% compare
  4. 34 Indonesia 4.6% compare
  5. 35 Paraguay 2.7% compare
  6. 36 Colombia 2.3% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa?
Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory in South Africa was 5.7% in 2021, according to ASPIRE.
What is the highest beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 39.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 2020.
How does South Africa rank for beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory?
South Africa ranks 33rd out of 37 countries with data for 2021.
Is beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - contributory rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 60.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from ASPIRE, published as part of Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on ASPIRE. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/beneficiary-incidence-in-1st-quintile-poorest-percent-contributory-pensions-pret/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Beneficiary incidence in 1st quintile (poorest) (%) - Contributory Pensions (preT)
Unit
preT
Source
ASPIRE
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 369 data points, 2002–2023
Last refreshed

Percentage of program beneficiaries in a quintile relative to the total number of beneficiaries in the population